RAUL CASTRO BREAKS SILENCE ABOUT JAILED U.S. "CONTRACTOR"

Yesterday Cuba allowed U.S. diplomats their first visit with the U.S. Contractor who was detained Dec. 4th. His employer, Development Alternatives, Inc admits that he works with their U.S. Contract to manage $8.6 million to "Transition Cuba To Democracy" and "assist civil society groups" on the Island.

On Dec. 21st Raul Castro commented on the case in a speech to the Cuban General Assembly. He stated that the man is "euphemistically called a U.S. Contractor" but was "illegally supplying sophisticated satellite communications equipment" to groups the U.S. government "aspires to organize against our people." This is the only time any Cuban official has publicly referred to the case. The prisoner is believed to be in one of Cuba's high security prisons.

Also this week a group of Unitarians from Portland were sent home when there were irregularities with their license and visas. Because of the U.S. Travel Ban the United States requires individuals to be licensed by the U.S. government. Most Americans travel through a third country and purchase a tourist visa at the airport. (Why the Unitarians had both, may have appeared strange). Some U.S. travelers feel safer not violating U.S. law and travel with a license. Some, like Rev. Lucius Walker and the Pastors For Peace Caravan refuse to apply for a license and see their travel as civil disobedience. It looks like to me that Cuba may be looking more closely at all U.S. travelers. After all, if you travel on a U.S. license granted by the U.S. government it could be that you are working for the "Cuba Transition Plan". On the other hand the current American sitting in jail illegally entered on a Tourist Visa (clearly he was not there as a tourist).

One group that will have no problem with Cuban authorities will be those traveling with Rev. Walker. They are well known and much loved by the Cuban people. For the rest of us it just makes traveling to Cuba the adventure it always is.....